Chapter 316 - 132: Your Dreamscape, Even I, a Witch, Find It Depraved

Chapter 316: Chapter 132: Your Dreamscape, Even I, a Witch, Find It Depraved

Zhao Ci walked over, holding their daughter. He gently wiped the tears from her face and said softly, "Why are you still crying? Come on, I’ll take you out for something good. A new mushroom hotpot place opened in the West Suburb. I hear the mushrooms are all air-freighted from Dian Nan."

Gu Xiangzhu: "..."

She opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say.

The little girl in Zhao Ci’s arms also reached out, gently wiping her cheek. Then, she held out her arms. "Mama, hold..."

Gu Xiangzhu: "..."

’Forget it!’

’I’ll ask later!’

’From the looks of it, that annoying scene probably won’t happen again anytime soon.’

’I need to find a suitable opportunity to ask.’

’In a way that won’t make him realize this is a dream.’

’That’s how I can gain more control.’

"Mhm!"

She nodded and took her dream-daughter from him.

But...

The child was so tiny.

She had no idea how to hold her and was at a loss for a moment.

Zhao Ci shot her a reproachful look. "Did you cry yourself stupid? You don’t even know how to hold a child? Hold her facing up, let her sit in the crook of your arm."

Gu Xiangzhu: "..."

They went downstairs.

Got in the car.

They arrived at a lively hotpot restaurant, the whole place shrouded in billowing steam.

Gu Xiangzhu watched the other boisterous customers, feeling a bit dazed.

After a while, she collected herself, leaned close to Zhao Ci’s ear, and asked in a low voice, "Where exactly is this place?"

Zhao Ci smiled. "This is my home, a world of peace and prosperity. You said you liked it here and wanted to spend the rest of your life with me. Have you forgotten?"

Gu Xiangzhu: "!!!"

The mushroom hotpot was delicious.

But the child was a handful.

Thankfully, Zhao Ci took care of her the entire time.

Gu Xiangzhu ate quietly off to the side, occasionally looking up at the father and daughter.

’She felt a stir in her heart.’

’For emperors and generals, this dream was a bit too ordinary.’

’But he seemed to be enjoying it immensely.’

’It really... did seem quite blissful.’

’The mushrooms are delicious.’

’Even better than in the real world.’

’A pity it only exists in a dream.’

She couldn’t help but scan the other customers again.

’They all looked healthy and full of vitality, and their families must be quite well-off.’

’But there was no air of nobility about them. Instead, their faces were etched with weariness—the look of a life of toil. They must be common folk.’

’Yet even common folk could afford such a sumptuous dinner. What kind of golden age was this?’

’A world of peace.’

’And prosperity.’

’I... actually quite like it.’

’It’s just a shame this is a world within a dream.’

’I’ve confirmed it!’

’Only the previous dynasty could have achieved such a golden age!’

’This little scoundrel must have just been a commoner from the previous dynasty, from a minor wealthy family at best.’

’What a pointless question that was!’

After they ate and drank their fill, they drove home.

Gu Xiangzhu watched Zhao Ci play many childish games with their daughter until he lulled her to sleep. Only then did he come over, take her hand, and lead her quietly back to the bedroom.

THUD!

The door swung shut.

Zhao Ci hugged her again and whispered, "Sweetheart, shall we continue?"

Gu Xiangzhu: "..."

She shook her head.

Her finger tapped lightly on his forehead.

Zhao Ci’s head tilted to the side, and he passed out in his own dream.

Gu Xiangzhu sighed softly. She walked to the window and gazed down at the traffic flowing on the road below, her expression incredibly complex.

’In the dream... she just couldn’t bring herself to kill him.’

’But what about after she left the dream?’

’It’s true the little scoundrel likes me. Otherwise, his Joyful Dream wouldn’t have been like this.’

’But his first priority is definitely his own survival. Everything he does must be for the sake of staying alive.’

’Otherwise... he wouldn’t have deceived me for so long.’

’I might hold a lot of power, but it’s still too difficult to contend with Zhao Huan.’

’In other words... after Zhao Ci gets out, the possibility of his betrayal remains!’

’And it’s not a small one!’

The fury of risking it all for nothing, the humiliation of being seen through and taken advantage of at every careful step—it all churned inside her, driving her mad with hatred.

’Especially since, to save him, I gave up the chance to obtain the Celestial Demon Seal, entered his Joyful Dream, and became entangled with him in such a vulgar, intimate way—I even let go of my five senses in the end...’

She was trembling with hatred.

But she just couldn’t resolve to kill him!

’So... what should I do?’

Gu Xiangzhu thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.

’She felt... that it was probably because she felt too safe inside the dream.’

’That’s why she couldn’t make an accurate judgment.’

’Forget it!’

’I’ll just get out of here first!’

She looked up at the sky, raised her hands, and grabbing the night curtain, began to tear it apart with all her might.

...

Zhao Ci’s consciousness gradually returned.

’He breathed a silent sigh of relief. He had clearly felt someone forcibly tear the dream apart.’

’To be honest... the experience was amazing.’

’Although the content was a bit lacking, the realism of the dream was explosive, especially that time with the little auntie...’

’And my daughter is so adorable!’

’This dream was truly captivating.’

’Sigh!’

’No wonder the Joyful Dream can capture so many people and turn them into slaves.’

’This sense of emptiness and loss upon waking is something not everyone can resist.’

’In the dream, the little auntie and I unlocked everything.’

’But now that I’m awake, I have to keep up the act.’

’Getting to the final step... I have no idea how much longer I’ll have to keep taking these beatings.’

’And... every step is fraught with danger!’

’So depressing!’

He slowly opened his eyes.

He saw Gu Xiangzhu looking at him with a beaming smile, and she asked gently, "You’re awake?"

Inside, a furious ocean raged within her heart.

’But I must pretend I know nothing.’

’Only then can I keep the upper hand—including the power over his life and death.’

’Besides... the experts from the Imperial Clan Court are right outside.’

"Mhm!"

Zhao Ci squeezed her hand, looking deeply moved. "Good sister, you saved me again!"

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish]: I hope that one day, after I kill Zhao Ci, I won’t be afflicted by a Heart Demon. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +1000, No Regrets Talisman x1.

Zhao Ci: "!!!"

The purple subtitles glowed with a blinding light.

He was dumbfounded.

’What the hell is going on?’

Just as he was reeling in confusion, the purple subtitles slowly dimmed until they vanished completely.

’It disappeared?’

’Does that mean it’s fine now?’

SWISH!

The purple subtitles reappeared.

Then.

They disappeared again.

Appeared, disappeared, appeared, disappeared...

’This isn’t Gu Xiangzhu’s wish!’

’This is Schrodinger’s damn wish!’

’Until the moment to strike arrives, she’s permanently in a superposition of wanting to kill me and not wanting to kill me?’

’What is this situation!’

’What the hell is this situation?!’

’What on earth did I do to piss her off?’

’Wait!’

A sudden chill went down Zhao Ci’s spine. ’There’s no such thing as love without reason, nor hate without cause in this world.’

’For the little auntie’s attitude to change so drastically, it could only mean... she was part of that Joyful Dream just now.’

’In other words...’

’I wasn’t just having some embarrassing dream a moment ago.’

’I was actually interacting with the little auntie for real?’

’Huh?’

’Why do I suddenly feel a sense of accomplishment?’

’That’s not the point!’

’Does that mean she heard all that stuff about "acting" and "dog training"?’

’Shit!’

’Fuck!’

’It’s all blown up.’

’I’ve completely screwed it up!’

’She didn’t kill me in the dream.’

’Maybe it was because of the sincerity I showed.’

’But this is the real world!’

’I’m still a wandering Prince tossed about by wind and rain, forced to do many things I don’t want to just to stay safe.’

’She’s still the Demon Sect Saintess, one who has placed a heavy bet and could lose everything at any moment.’

’Taking my physical body through extreme measures... is the best way for her to cut her losses.’

’Would she... do that?’

’And what am I supposed to do?’

Gu Xiangzhu caressed his face, her smile gentle, even a little teasing. "What did you dream about in the Joyful Dream? Did you dream of your big sister?"

Zhao Ci: "..."

He gritted his teeth.

And wrapped his arms around her waist.

With a "MWAH," he planted a kiss on her lips.

"My dreams are all about you!"

Gu Xiangzhu: "!!!"